Report: Africa can generate 22% of its energy through renewables by 2030, headed by biomass
The African continent could generate nearly a quarter of its energy needs through the use of indigenous, clean, renewable energy by 2030, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Africa 2030 – a comprehensive roadmap for Africa’s energy transition – finds that a combination of modern renewable technology could realistically meet 22% of Africa’s energy needs by 2030, a more than a four-fold increase from just five% in 2013.
The report also finds that scaling up modern renewables in Africa is an affordable means to help meet fast-growing energy demand while increasing energy access, improving health, and achieving sustainability goals.
‘Africa holds some of the best renewable energy resources in the world in the form of biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind,” says IRENA director-general Adnan Z. Amin.
‘This, combined with the precipitous drop of renewable energy technology costs, creates a massive opportunity for African countries to both transform and expand their energy systems while providing a pathway for low-carbon economic growth.’
The report identifies nearly 10 exajoules – the equivalent of more than 341mt of coal – of options for sustainable development through renewable energy, roughly 40% of which would be in the power sector.
Solar resources are abundant across the continent, while biomass and hydropower potential are more plentiful in the central and southern regions.
Wind resources are strongest in the north, east, and southern regions, and geothermal energy is strong in the Great Rift Valley.
Renewable energy capacity additions could increase the share of modern renewables in the power sector to 50% by 2030, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 310mt.
Developing these projects is more cost-effective than ever before, with solar and wind projects across Africa now producing record-low electricity prices.
Roughly 50% of the energy from the recommended options would be through biomass-based heat applications.
Half of all energy use in Africa today involves traditional biomass consumption.
The report estimates that a shift to modern renewable energy cooking solutions would reduce the use of traditional cook stoves by more than 60%, saving $20-30 billion annually by 2030 through the reduction of health complications from poor indoor air quality.
‘Tapping into renewable energy resources is the only way African nations can fuel economic growth, maximise socio-economic development, and enhance energy security with limited environmental impact,’ says Amin.
‘The technologies are available, reliable, and increasingly cost-competitive. The onus is now on Africa’s governments to create conditions to accelerate deployment, paving the way for Africa’s unfettered, sustainable development.’
The report recommends 14 actions to speed the uptake of renewables on the continent, including enabling policies and a regulatory framework to catalyse investment, adopting investment promotion measures, and off-grid renewable energy solutions to increase energy access and reduce poverty.
Africa 2030 is built on a country-by-country assessment of supply, demand, renewable energy potential, and technology prospects.
The effort is a part of IRENA’s REmap 2030 programme, which provides a roadmap to double the share of renewable energy in the world’s energy mix by 2030.
